Things have been heating up between the Awami League nominated mayoral candidate for the Shahjadpur municipality in Sirajganj and the local lawmaker, who also belongs to the ruling party.
On December 5, lawmaker Hasibur Rahman Swapan joined a reception programme at the playground of a local school. He arrived at the venue along with him a motorbike procession and sought vote for the ruling party’s electoral symbol -- boat.
Although he urged the gathering to cast vote for his party’s symbol, Swapan was not very friendly while talking about the candidate that his party has nominated for the seat – Halimul Haque Miru.
Swapan – who is known to be close with Miru’s rival and independent candidate VP Abdur Rahim – said former municipality chairman Miru was a political outcast.
Two days before that, Miru complained to the chairman of the district unit Awami League – former minister Abdul Latif Biswas – and the local deputy commissioner that Swapan might break electoral code of conduct at that programme.
According to the electoral code of conduct, lawmakers are not allowed to take part in electioneering in any capacity.
However, Miru’s complaint was not entertained and Swapan did exactly what he feared.
In a selection poll conducted among the local grassroots Awami League men, VP Rahim beat Miru as the first choice candidate from the Shahjadpur unit of the ruling party.
However, the Awami League central command nominated Miru instead of VP Rahim as the candidate for the first ever partisan municipality polls in history.
Later Miru also alleged that Swapan was campaigning instead of independent candidate Rahim instead of him. Swapan has also been allegedly threatening the local ruling party workers to not work in favour of Miru.
District Awami League chief Abdul Latif Biswas said party chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had been informed about the matter.
However, Swapan denied the allegations saying there was no way he could oppose the party chief’s selection because that could result in expulsion.
Reportedly, Miru has also lodged a written official complaint with the local returning officer of the upcoming elections.